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San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta) Program

DRAFT REVISED SUBSTITUTE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT IN SUPPORT OF POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLAN FOR THE BAY-DELTA: SAN JOAQUIN RIVER FLOWS AND SOUTHERN DELTA WATER QUALITY

On September 15, 2016, the State Water Board released the draft revised Substitute Environmental Document (SED) in support of potential changes to San Joaquin River flow and southern Delta water quality objectives and program of implementation included in the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (Bay-Delta Plan).

Proposed changes to the Bay-Delta Plan include:

  1. New narrative February through June Lower San Joaquin River (LSJR) flow objective applicable to the San Joaquin River and its salmon-bearing tributaries – the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced rivers – and an associated program of implementation to support and maintain the natural production of viable native LSJR Watershed fish populations migrating through the Delta; and
  2. Revised numeric southern Delta salinity objectives and an associated program of implementation to protect agricultural beneficial uses in the southern Delta.

The SED and associated appendices were prepared in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Water Code, and other applicable State and federal requirements and include an analysis of the expected environmental, water supply, economic, and hydropower effects of the LSJR flow and southern Delta salinity alternatives.

The State Water Board will make any needed changes to the SED and prepare written responses to comments along with a final draft SED and final draft changes to the Bay-Delta Plan for consideration by the State Water Board. Changes to the Bay-Delta Plan must be approved by the State Water Board and the Office of Administrative Law before becoming effective.

Notice of Filing and Public Hearing

PUBLIC COMMENTS

The 6-month public comment period to receive public comments on the proposed Plan Amendment and the SED ended on Friday, March 17, 2017 at noon. The public comments received during the comment period are available at the link below.

PUBLIC HEARING MATERIALS

A five-day public hearing was held to receive public comments on the proposed Plan Amendment and the SED. The hearing began on November 29, 2016 in Sacramento; continued on December 16, 2016 in Stockton, December 19, 2016 in Merced, and December 20, 2016 in Modesto; and concluded on January 3, 2017 in Sacramento.

Notice

Notice of Filing and Recirculation and of Public Comment Period and Hearing on the Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary and Supporting Draft SED

Staff Technical Workshop

A two-day public staff technical workshop was held December 5 and 12, 2016. The workshop provided technical information and an explanation of the analytical tools used in developing the proposed updates to the Bay-Delta Plan and the recirculated draft SED.

Fact Sheets

Bay-Delta Plan and Draft Revised SED – September 15, 2016

More Information

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  • (Updated 7/6/17)
 
 

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